Happy ending in hunt for mascot

CEBU CITY: With only a day before the Games ended, a group of Indonesian journalists reporting on the martial arts events from this city were finally able to get their hands on the Gilas eagle mascot.

The journalists searched for the mascot in malls and shops throughout the city during the week, only to come up empty- handed.

It seemed the mascot -- representing the Philippine eagle, the world's largest of its species -- was nearly as rare as its wild counterpart, which is severely endangered.

On Sunday, thanks to the help of a media relations employee, the journalists finally got the mascot -- for a price.

The small version of the mascot, measuring about 25 cm by 20 cm, sells for 600 pesos (US$12), which is quite expensive for a small doll.

Later on Sunday, a delegate from the Brunei team saw the mascot and asked the journalists if they would be willing to sell it.

After their long search, not one would let this bird out of their hands. -- JP